Best Science Fiction Books Last 10 Years (2026): 4 Compared

A reader hunting for the best science fiction books last 10 years wants recent adventures, not classics, and this list gathers four middle grade post-apocalyptic and animal fantasy books published between 2013 and 2019. We compared them by page count, publisher, series position and stated reading age, so you can match the book to the reader.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Endling #2 by Applegate	9.6/10	Buy
2	Midnight Blade by Brallier	9.6/10	Buy
3	Nightmare King by Brallier	9.6/10	Buy
4	The Last Dogs by Holt	9.6/10	Buy

1

Endling #2 by Applegate

Katherine Applegate·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 400-page middle grade animal fantasy, book 2 of the Endling trilogy, with a stated reading age of 9 to 12; suits readers who want an animal fantasy series, starting with book 1 first.

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Pros

• 400 pages, the longest book here
• The listing states Applegate won the Newbery Medal
• Stated reading age of 9 to 12 and grade level 3 to 7

Cons

• Book 2 of 3, so start with book 1
• Reading age is marked as from customers
• Illustrated edition, but no illustration count is stated

2

Midnight Blade by Brallier

Max Brallier·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 320-page illustrated post-apocalyptic adventure, book 5 of 10 in The Last Kids on Earth, with a stated reading age of 9 to 11; suits series fans, not new readers.

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Pros

• 320 pages, illustrated, Viking Books for Young Readers, 2019
• Book 5 of a 10-book series with a graphic novel companion in More options
• Stated reading age of 9 to 11 and grade level 3 to 7

Cons

• Book 5 of 10, so new readers should start at book 1
• Reading age is marked as from customers
• Monsters and zombie battles throughout, so preview for younger readers

3

Nightmare King by Brallier

Max Brallier·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 288-page illustrated post-apocalyptic adventure, book 3 of 10, with a stated reading age of 8 to 11; suits series fans continuing the story.

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Pros

• 288 pages, illustrated, Viking Books for Young Readers, 2017
• Book 3 of 10 in the same series
• Stated reading age of 8 to 11 and grade level 3 to 7

Cons

• Book 3 of 10, so start at book 1
• Reading age is marked as from customers
• The Nightmare King and zombie hunts may scare younger readers

4

The Last Dogs by Holt

Christopher Holt·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

A 336-page animal adventure, book 3 of 4 about three dogs finding their people, with a stated reading age of 8 to 12; suits dog-loving readers continuing the series.

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Pros

• 336 pages, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2013 first edition
• Book 3 of 4 about three dogs on a quest
• Stated reading age of 8 to 12 and grade level 3 to 7

Cons

• Book 3 of 4, so start at book 1
• 2013 publication, the oldest edition here
• A science experiment backstory with danger throughout; preview for younger readers

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More picks to compare

• Thrilling Tales from the Tree HouseFor series fans, six full-color comics from the Last Kids crew.Check on Amazon

Compare the picks

Book details as published on each listing, collected 19 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs fit for the reader, contents and edition, value, and the listed reading age or level where one is given. All four listings state a reading age and grade level: three are marked as from customers, while the Last Dogs listing states its age plainly. Every pick is a mid-series book, which costs each some fit points for new readers.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best science fiction books last 10 years

Start at book 1

All four picks sit mid-series: book 5 of 10, book 3 of 10, book 2 of 3 and book 3 of 4. None is a starting point, so buy book 1 of the series first and confirm the series number on the listing. The graphic novel companion in More options below also assumes series knowledge.

Match the age to the reader

Stated reading ages run from 8 to 12 across the four, with grade level 3 to 7 on each. Three ages are marked as from customers; the Last Dogs listing states 8 to 12 years plainly. For a reader under 8, none of these is the right shelf.

Check the format

Three of the four are illustrated editions, and the More options pick is a full-color graphic novel of six comics. A reader who likes pictures with the story gets the most from the Last Kids books and Endling.

Before you buy

• All four are mid-series books; buy book 1 first and confirm the series number on the listing.
• Check the stated reading age against the child; three ages here are marked as from customers.
• Illustrated editions suit readers who like pictures; the graphic novel companion is in More options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book is the longest?

Endling #2: The First at 400 pages. The others run from 288 to 336 pages.

Can my child start with any of these?

No. All four are mid-series: book 2 of 3, book 3 of 4, book 3 of 10 and book 5 of 10. Start with book 1 of each series.

Are these really science fiction?

They are post-apocalyptic and animal fantasy adventures for middle grade readers, the closest this batch comes to the keyword. Preview the descriptions for monsters and danger before buying for a younger reader.

Still deciding? Our top pickEndling #2 by Applegate

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Related lists

See every fantasy list and all fiction lists.

More lists: science fiction for middle school and science fiction for middle schoolers.